Printing Industries of America Obtains Department of Labor Statistics

PITTSBURGH—Jan. 10, 2012—Printing Industries of America has obtained Department of Labor (DOL) Wage/Hour statistics for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years. These numbers reveal key enforcement data on a number of parameters. A breakdown of the statistics can be found on Printing Industries of America’s website.

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage/Hour Division has not published enforcement statistics on its website, despite requests from Printing Industries of America. As a result, Printing Industries filed Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain this data over the years.

In March 2009, the DOL Wage/Hour Division began hiring 150 additional investigators after a Government Accountability Office report concluded that the division was understaffed. The 2011 fiscal year statistics show that enforcement has increased (e.g., back wages collected, number of employees receiving back wages, enforcement hours worked) despite complaints registered having decreased by 4,700 from fiscal year 2010:

Minimum wage and overtime cases have jumped.

Family and Medical Leave Act cases have remained relatively flat.

Low-wage industries (which do not include graphic communications) saw a 31 percent increase in cases.

Child labor cases were relatively flat.

Here’s a sample of some of the data:

W/HD Enforcement Statistics – All Acts

FY 2010

FY 2011

Change from 2010

Back Wages Collected

$175,652,665

$226,616,156

$50,963,492

Employees Receiving Back Wages

208,615

284,593

75,978

Complaints Registered

31,824

27,112

(4,712)

Enforcement Hours

884,419

1,212,664

328,245

Average Days to Resolve Complaint

137

124

(13)

Concluded Cases

25,166

33,666

8,500

For more information and a breakdown of the stats, contact Jim Kyger, assistant vice president of Human Relations, Printing Industries of America, at jkyger@printing.org.

About Printing Industries of AmericaPrinting Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with approximately one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.